APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (15/07/2026)
For APSC CCE and other Assam competitive exam aspirants, staying consistently updated with reliable current affairs is essential for success. This blog provides a well-researched analysis of the most important topics from The Assam Tribune dated 15 July 2026. Each issue has been carefully selected and explained to support both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, ensuring alignment with the APSC CCE syllabus and the evolving trends of the examination.
✨ APSC CCE Foundation Course, 2026
Assam Power Transmission Grid Infrastructure & Rising Power Demand
- GS Paper III: Infrastructure | Energy | Economic Development
- GS Paper V (Assam): Economy | Infrastructure | Governance
- Prelims: Power Sector | Energy Infrastructure | AIIB | Electricity Transmission
🔴 Introduction
- Assam’s peak electricity demand reached nearly 2,800 MW during summer 2026.
- Core Issue: The bottleneck is transmission congestion, not a lack of power generation. Adequate supply is available from generating stations and the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).
- Impact: Over 30-year-old 132 kV transmission corridors are causing voltage instability, thermal overloading, and frequent power outages.
- Action Taken: The State initiated ₹4,000+ crore grid modernisation projects, including funding assistance from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
🔴 Understanding the Electricity Supply Chain
- Generation (Producing electricity) → ISTS (Bulk transport via high-voltage lines) → State Transmission Grid (132/220/400 kV) → Grid Substations → Distribution Companies (e.g., Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL)) → Consumers.
- Key Takeaway: Assam’s current crisis is strictly a Transmission network issue.
🔴 Major Transmission Bottlenecks in Assam
- The most critical network stress is located in Lower Assam’s 132 kV lines.
- Key Congested Corridors: Bornagar–Dhaligaon, Sonabeel–Depota, Sonabeel–Ghoramari, Ghoramari–Depota, Nalbari–Rangia, Nalbari–Barpeta, Barpeta–Dhaligaon.
- Status of these lines: Over 3 decades old, suffering from ageing conductors, reduced current carrying capacity, and peak-demand overloads.
🔴 Why is Power Demand Rising in Assam?
- Rapid Urbanisation: Expansion of Guwahati, urban centres, and commercial establishments.
- Industrial Growth: Advantage Assam investments, tea processing, petroleum sector, industrial parks, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Agricultural Electrification: Irrigation pumps and cold storage.
- Household Consumption: Rising use of air conditioners, refrigerators, and digital devices.
- Government Schemes: Saubhagya Scheme and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) expanding electrification.
🔴 Major Problems in Assam’s Grid Infrastructure
- Ageing Transmission Network: Over 30-year-old lines with deteriorating conductors, corroded towers, and hardware failures.
- Thermal Overloading: Demand exceeding conductor limits causes heating, voltage drops, high line losses, and grid tripping.
- Voltage Instability: Triggered by overloaded feeders, long transmission distances, and inadequate transformer capacity, leading to equipment damage.
- Transformer Constraints: Grid substations like Samaguri and Salakati BTPS lack adequate transformation capacity for efficient power evacuation.
- High Transmission Losses: Old conductors increase resistance and operational costs, reducing overall efficiency.
🔴 Prelims Specific Pointers
- ISTS: National high-voltage grid managed primarily by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) to transfer electricity across States.
- AIIB: Established in 2016 (Headquarters: Beijing, China). Over 100+ members. India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder. Focuses on sustainable infrastructure.
- HTLS Conductors: High Temperature Low Sag conductors carry higher current with lower transmission losses, ideal for upgrading existing lines without major tower modifications.
- Important Voltage Levels: 765 kV (National Grid), 400 kV (Regional), 220 kV & 132 kV (State Networks), 33/11 kV (Distribution).
- National Targets: Universal electrification, Smart Grid development, renewable integration, and Net Zero by 2070.
🔴 Mains Pointers: Significance & Challenges
- Importance for Assam:
- Energy Security & Economy: Reliable power improves Ease of Doing Business, manufacturing, and employment.
- Industrial Development: Vital for Numaligarh Refinery, tea industry, petrochemicals, and semiconductor hubs.
- Regional Connectivity: Strengthens the Act East Policy by boosting industrial logistics in Northeast India.
- Renewable Energy Integration: Enables evacuation of solar, small hydro, and biomass power.
- Major Challenges:
- Frequent breakdowns from ageing lines and load shedding from thermal overloading.
- Geographical constraints: Difficult terrain, floods, and erosion damaging transmission towers.
- Administrative delays regarding forest clearances and financial constraints.
🔴 Government Initiatives
- National Level:
- Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)
- Green Energy Corridor Programme
- National Smart Grid Mission
- Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)
- DDUGJY
- PM-KUSUM (solar-based decentralised power)
- Assam Level:
- ₹4,000+ crore grid strengthening projects (including AIIB assistance).
- Substation capacity augmentation and reconductoring of old transmission lines.
🔴 Reports, Policies & Value Addition
- Key Institutions & Acts: Electricity Act (2003), National Electricity Policy (2021), National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL), and APDCL.
- Constitutional Link: Entry 38 of the Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule) covers Electricity (enabling both Union and State legislation).
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Links:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
🔴 Way Forward
- Accelerate Grid Modernisation: Replace 132 kV lines with high-capacity HTLS conductors and upgrade transformer substations.
- Develop a Smart Grid: Deploy smart meters, automated substations, and real-time monitoring (SCADA) for reliability.
- Enhance Climate Resilience: Design flood and erosion-resistant towers in vulnerable riverine tracts.
- Strengthen Coordination: Synchronise planning across AEGCL, APDCL, CEA, and POWERGRID for timely execution.
- Renewable Integration: Expand grid capacity specifically for solar, hydro, and biomass projects.
🔴 Conclusion
Assam’s electricity challenge is defined by insufficient transmission capacity rather than inadequate generation. Upgrading the ageing grid with modern, climate-resilient, and smart technologies is strictly necessary to unlock industrial growth, integrate renewable energy, and ensure sustainable economic development.
US–Iran Conflict & Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Implications for India and the World
- GS Paper II: International Relations
- GS Paper III: Energy Security | Economy | Internal Security
- GS Paper V (Assam): International Relations & Economic Development
- Prelims: Strait of Hormuz | OPEC | UNCLOS | Indian Ocean Region | Strategic Chokepoints
🔴 Introduction
- Recent hostilities between the United States and Iran, marked by strikes and attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, resulted in the death of an Indian mariner and multiple injuries.
- Impact: The conflict disrupted global energy markets, spiked crude oil prices, and severely threatened maritime navigation, regional stability in West Asia, and India’s energy security.
- Strategic Trigger: The Strait is a global chokepoint; handling ~20% of global oil trade, any disruption immediately threatens international supply chains.
🔴 Background of the US–Iran Conflict
- The rivalry dates back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, transforming Iran from a US ally into an Islamic Republic.
- Key Milestones: US sanctions, disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, and subsequent regional proxy conflicts leading to current missile strikes on shipping.
🔴 Strait of Hormuz: Strategic Importance
- Location: A narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. Bordered by Iran (North) and Oman (South).
- The Ultimate Oil Chokepoint: Transits approximately 20% of the world’s traded crude oil and a massive share of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
- Major Exporters Reliant on the Strait: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Iran.
- Disruption Fallout: Instantly affects global crude prices, increases shipping/insurance costs, and drives worldwide inflation. It grants whoever controls it immense geopolitical leverage.
🔴 Implications for India
- Energy Security: India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil, predominantly from West Asia. Disruptions widen the Current Account Deficit (CAD) and inflate the import bill.
- Rising Fuel Prices: Direct upward pressure on the costs of petrol, diesel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and aviation fuel.
- Fertilizer Costs: Expensive natural gas (LNG) directly increases domestic fertilizer production costs.
- Shipping & Trade: Triggers higher freight charges, soaring insurance premiums, and delayed cargo movement.
- Indian Diaspora: Threatens the safety, employment, and vital remittances of millions of Indians residing in Gulf nations.
- Maritime Security: Demands active Indian Navy deployments to escort merchant vessels, conduct anti-piracy operations, and execute potential evacuations.
🔴 International Law & Institutional Response
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): Guarantees Freedom of Navigation and transit passage. Blocking the Strait violates these core principles.
- US Fifth Fleet: Headquartered in Bahrain, tasked with safeguarding maritime security across the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea.
- India’s Diplomatic Stance: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) actively engages regional governments, advocating for an immediate ceasefire, diplomatic resolution, and the guaranteed safety of commercial shipping and Indian nationals.
🔴 Prelims Specific Pointers
- Strait of Hormuz: Located between Iran and Oman; connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
- Persian Gulf Bordering Nations: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE.
- Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): Headquartered in Vienna, Austria. Coordinates petroleum policies to stabilize global oil markets.
- Key Global Maritime Chokepoints:
- Malacca: Indian Ocean – South China Sea
- Bab-el-Mandeb: Red Sea – Gulf of Aden
- Bosporus: Black Sea – Sea of Marmara
- Suez Canal: Mediterranean – Red Sea
- Panama Canal: Atlantic – Pacific
🔴 Mains Pointers: Importance, Challenges & Government Initiatives
- Significance:
- Economic Stability: Secure oil routes control inflation, support industrial growth, and maintain fiscal balance.
- India’s Act West Policy: Crucial for maintaining deep energy, trade, and diaspora linkages with Gulf countries.
- Major Challenges: Regional military instability, global trade disruption, severe oil price volatility, sanctions, and prolonged proxy conflicts.
- Key Government Initiatives:
- Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): Underground crude reserves established at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur to cushion supply shocks.
- Energy Diversification: Expanding imports from the USA, Russia, Brazil, and Africa to reduce West Asian dependency.
- SAGAR Vision: Security and Growth for All in the Region prioritizes maritime security, regional cooperation, and freedom of navigation.
- Indian Navy Operations: Executing mission-based deployments and protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
🔴 Reports, Institutions & Value Addition
- Key Entities: International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy Information Administration (EIA, USA), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the Directorate General of Shipping.
- Constitutional Link: Article 51 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) promotes international peace, respect for international law, and peaceful dispute settlement.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
🔴 Way Forward
- Strengthen Energy Security: Aggressively diversify crude/LNG import sources while expanding domestic renewable energy production.
- Enhance Strategic Reserves: Increase SPR capacity to effectively absorb short-term global supply disruptions.
- Promote Diplomatic Engagement: Sustain advocacy for dialogue and de-escalation in West Asia.
- Bolster Maritime Security: Deepen the Indian Navy’s mission-based deployments and regional partnerships to secure critical SLOCs.
- Build Economic Resilience: Focus on energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and insulated supply chains to mitigate external market shocks.
🔴 Conclusion
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery of global energy. Securing India’s interests amidst regional volatility requires a balanced strategy: robust diplomatic engagement, diversified energy sourcing, strengthened naval capabilities, and an accelerated transition to resilient, clean energy systems.
Food Inflation vs Economic Growth: Achieving Inclusive Development Through Price Stability
- GS Paper III: Indian Economy | Inflation | Agriculture | Food Security
- GS Paper II: Government Policies & Interventions
- GS Paper V (Assam): Economy | Agriculture | Food Security
- Prelims: CPI, Food Inflation, MSP, PDS, NAFED, Buffer Stocks
🔴 Introduction
- Core Issue: Persistently high food inflation erodes real incomes and purchasing power, particularly for low- and middle-income households who spend a disproportionate share of earnings on food.
- Economic Impact: High food prices suppress private consumption, lower domestic savings, and reduce broad demand growth, undermining high GDP growth.
- Policy Focus: Long-term development depends on achieving structural price stability alongside sustained economic growth to guarantee food security and inclusive development.
🔴 What is Food Inflation?
- Definition: The persistent increase in the prices of food items over time.
- Measurement: Measured in India via the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
- Key Components: Cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, fish, edible oils, sugar, and spices.
- Key Distinction: General inflation covers all goods and services and is driven by broad macro factors; food inflation covers only the CPI Food Index and is uniquely vulnerable to weather, seasonal demand, and supply chain shocks.
🔴 Causes of Food Inflation
- Climate Change: Irregular monsoons, droughts, heatwaves, and crop failures. (Assam Perspective: Recurring floods in the Brahmaputra valley routinely damage crops and shrink agricultural output).
- Supply Chain & Fragmented Infrastructure: Traditional farming, small landholdings, poor irrigation, transport delays, high logistics costs, and lack of storage leading to high post-harvest losses.
- Rising Input Costs: Direct spikes in fertilizer prices, diesel, electricity, and agricultural labour wages.
- Global Shocks: International conflicts, crude oil shocks, global fertilizer shortages, and sudden export restrictions.
🔴 Food Inflation and Inclusive Growth
- Inclusive growth requires economic benefits to reach all sections of society. High food inflation directly dismantles this by:
- Widening economic inequality.
- Reducing real wages and driving up poverty risks.
- Forcing lower nutritional intake among poor households.
- Limiting the poverty-reducing potential of broad GDP expansion.
🔴 Government Initiatives (National & State)
- Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF): Provides financial cushions for timely market interventions to stabilise essential commodity prices.
- Buffer Stock Policy & FCI: Food Corporation of India (FCI) manages the procurement, storage, and maintenance of wheat and rice buffer stocks to moderate supply shocks.
- Public Distribution System (PDS) & NFSA: Delivers legal entitlements to subsidised grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
- PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Strengthens safety nets by ensuring free food grains for eligible beneficiaries.
- NAFED: National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India handles price support, procurement, and market intervention for pulses and onions.
- e-NAM (National Agriculture Market): A digital marketplace improving price discovery, integrating regional markets, and reducing middlemen.
🔴 Prelims Specific Pointers
- CPI (Combined): Released by the NSO; acts as the nominal anchor for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under its flexible inflation targeting framework.
- Inflation Target: 4% (Tolerance band of 2%–6%).
- NAFED: Established in 1958, headquartered in New Delhi as the apex cooperative marketing body.
- Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Empowers the central government to regulate the production, supply, pricing, and distribution of essential goods during crises.
🔴 Mains Pointers: Significance, Challenges & Interventions
- Significance of Price Control: Safeguards macroeconomic stability, protects domestic consumption, improves nutritional outcomes, and achieves Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Key Frameworks Active: PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, PM-AASHA, and digital agriculture initiatives.
- Assam Specific Challenges: High reliance on importing vegetables/pulses from other states makes Assam highly vulnerable to imported price volatility. Local storage gaps amplify seasonal price spikes.
🔴 Reports, Institutions & Value Addition
- Key Frameworks: Reports from RBI, Economic Survey, Ministry of Agriculture, NITI Aayog, and Central Electricity Authority.
- Constitutional Linkages:
- Article 38: Promote public welfare and reduce inequalities.
- Article 39(b): Equitable distribution of material resources.
- Article 47: Raise the level of nutrition and public health (Directive Principles).
- SDG Mappings: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption).
🔴 Way Forward
- Enhance Agricultural Productivity: Expand climate-resilient farming, flood/drought-tolerant seeds, modern mechanisation, and efficient irrigation.
- Modernise Supply Chains: Scale up cold-chain infrastructure, warehousing, and logistics to dramatically curb post-harvest losses.
- Reform Marketing Networks: Strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), expand e-NAM penetration, and improve rural-urban connectivity.
- Build Localized Resilience (Assam): Build flood-resistant storage facilities and promote local horticulture to eliminate interstate import dependency.
- Dynamic Market Intervention: Deploy strategic buffer stock releases and the PSF fluidly to preempt excessive market speculation.
🔴 Conclusion
GDP growth alone cannot guarantee human development if rising food prices continuously erode purchasing power. Aligning resilient agriculture, modernized supply chains, smart market interventions, and targeted welfare nets is imperative to check food inflation, ensuring economic growth is both inclusive and socially just.
A New Chapter in BRICS Cooperation: Opportunities for India and Assam
- GS Paper II: International Relations | International Groupings
- GS Paper III: Economy | Trade | Science & Technology | Internal Security
- GS Paper V (Assam): International Relations | Economic Development
- Prelims: BRICS | New Development Bank | BRICS Pay | Kazan Declaration | BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group
🔴 Introduction
- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) has evolved into a highly influential multilateral grouping representing a vast share of the global population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and trade.
- The recent 2026 BRICS Summit (hosted by Brazil) adopted the Guwahati Declaration, focusing on anti-drug coordination, digital connectivity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate action, health, trade, and sustainable development.
- Significance: It presents immense opportunities for India and Assam, particularly in trade, innovation, connectivity, and advancing the Act East Policy, fostering greater Global South cooperation and a multipolar world order.
🔴 What is BRICS?
- Origin: Formed as BRIC in 2009 (Brazil, Russia, India, China). South Africa joined in 2010.
- Recent Expansion (2024–2025): Expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (2024), and Indonesia (2025), reflecting its growing role as a platform for the Global South.
- Core Objectives: Promote economic cooperation, reform global governance institutions, increase South-South cooperation, strengthen trade/investment, and promote a multipolar international order.
🔴 Guwahati Declaration (2026): Major Highlights
- Combating Drug Trafficking: Coordinated action against narcotics networks, strengthening intelligence sharing, and combating transnational organised crime.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Promoting ethical AI, digital transformation, and inclusive technology development.
- Digital Connectivity: Building digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and cross-border cooperation.
- Climate Action: Advancing green growth, climate resilience, and renewable energy cooperation.
- Public Health: Focus on health resilience, pandemic preparedness, and medical research.
- Trade & Investment: Expanding intra-BRICS trade, improving investment flows, and strengthening supply chains.
🔴 Why is BRICS Important for India?
- Economic Benefits: Provides larger export markets, supply-chain diversification, and technology partnerships.
- Strategic Importance: Supports India’s vision of a multipolar world, strategic autonomy, and South-South cooperation.
- Financial Cooperation: Access to alternative development financing through the New Development Bank (NDB).
- Global Governance: Acts as a vital platform for India to advocate reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO).
🔴 Why is BRICS Important for Assam?
- Act East Policy: Cements Assam’s position as India’s strategic gateway to Southeast Asia.
- Trade Potential: Expanding exports in tea, bamboo, handicrafts, silk, organic agriculture, and food processing.
- Connectivity: Synergizes with the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, the India–Myanmar–Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway, and multimodal logistics under Prime Minister (PM) Gati Shakti.
- Tourism: Boosts international exposure for eco-tourism, wildlife, cultural, and river tourism.
- Digital Economy & Education: Opens avenues for start-ups, Information Technology (IT) services, FinTech, AI innovation, and research collaborations among BRICS institutions.
🔴 Prelims Specific Pointers
- BRICS Organization: Intergovernmental grouping established in 2009; rotates chairmanship annually; operates on consensus; lacks a permanent secretariat.
- New Development Bank (NDB): Established in 2014; headquartered in Shanghai, China; focuses on infrastructure and sustainable development. Its first President was K.V. Kamath (India).
- BRICS Pay: A proposed cross-border payment initiative to facilitate transactions among members and reduce reliance on traditional payment channels.
- Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): A financial safety mechanism providing liquidity support to members facing balance-of-payments pressures.
🔴 Mains Pointers: Significance & Challenges
- Importance: Amplifies the voice of developing countries in global governance, ensures strategic autonomy for India, and creates massive trade, logistics, and export promotion opportunities for Assam (acting as a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)).
- Major Challenges: Slow consensus due to geopolitical differences, India-China border tensions (trust deficit), diverse economic priorities, lack of a binding institutional framework, and external pressures from global rivalries.
🔴 Government Initiatives Relevant to Assam
- Act East Policy: Strengthens economic and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia.
- PM Gati Shakti: Integrated infrastructure planning to enhance logistics and connectivity.
- Bharatmala Pariyojana: Road connectivity supporting vital trade corridors.
- National Logistics Policy: Focuses on reducing logistics costs and boosting competitiveness.
- Digital India: Enhances digital infrastructure and innovation.
🔴 Reports, Institutions & Value Addition
- Key Entities: BRICS Summit Declarations, NDB, WTO, IMF, World Bank, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
- Constitutional Link: Article 51 (Directive Principles of State Policy) directs the State to promote international peace, security, and respect for international law.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Links:
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Previous UPSC/APSC Themes: BRICS & Global South, NDB, Global Governance Reforms, Act East Policy, Regional connectivity in Northeast India.
🔴 Assam Perspective & Way Forward
- Translate Declarations into Action: Ensure timely implementation of BRICS initiatives via measurable cooperation in trade, health, and climate.
- Strengthen Assam’s Connectivity: Complete key infrastructure projects linking Assam with Southeast Asia to fully leverage its strategic location as a multimodal logistics hub.
- Promote Export Competitiveness: Support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) through better border trade infrastructure, quality standards, and market access.
- Invest in Innovation: Expand AI, digital tech, and research collaborations among BRICS institutions and Indian universities.
- Enhance Regional Cooperation: Synchronize BRICS engagements with platforms like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and ASEAN to deepen Indo-Pacific engagement.
🔴 Conclusion
BRICS is instrumental in shaping a multipolar international order, as reflected in the Guwahati Declaration’s broad agenda on security, technology, and sustainable development. For India, it reinforces strategic autonomy; for Assam, it offers a transformative opportunity to become a central hub for trade, connectivity, and innovation under the Act East Policy, provided sustained structural reforms and rapid infrastructure execution are achieved.
APSC Prelims MCQs
Q1. With reference to the electricity sector in India, consider the following statements:
- The Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) is primarily responsible for transmitting electricity across States through high-voltage networks.
- Transmission bottlenecks may lead to power outages even when sufficient electricity is available at generating stations.
- Distribution companies are responsible for generating electricity supplied to consumers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: ISTS carries bulk electricity across States. Power outages may occur due to weak transmission despite adequate generation. Distribution companies (DISCOMs) distribute electricity; they generally do not generate it.
Q2. Which of the following are advantages of High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors used in power transmission?
- Higher current carrying capacity
- Lower transmission losses
- Reduced need for constructing new transmission towers
- Direct generation of renewable energy
Select the correct answer using the code below.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation: HTLS conductors increase transmission capacity with lower sag and can often be installed on existing towers. They do not generate electricity.
Q3. The Strait of Hormuz connects which of the following water bodies?
A. Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
B. Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
C. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
D. Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
Answer: B
Explanation: The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, which opens into the Arabian Sea.
Q4. Why is the Strait of Hormuz considered strategically important?
- A significant share of global crude oil passes through it.
- It is a major route for LNG exports from the Gulf region.
- It directly connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Select the correct answer.
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Hormuz is the world’s most important oil chokepoint and a major LNG route. It does not connect the Mediterranean Sea.
Q5. Which of the following are likely consequences of a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz?
- Increase in crude oil prices
- Rise in shipping insurance costs
- Pressure on India’s Current Account Deficit
- Decline in global fertilizer prices
Select the correct answer.
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation: Oil and LNG disruptions raise energy and fertilizer costs. Fertilizer prices are more likely to rise than decline.
Q6. With reference to inflation in India, consider the following statements:
- Food inflation forms an important component of Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- High food inflation reduces the real purchasing power of households.
- The Reserve Bank of India targets only food inflation while formulating monetary policy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: RBI targets headline CPI inflation, not food inflation alone.
Q7. Which of the following government interventions are primarily intended to stabilize food prices?
- Buffer stock operations
- Price Stabilisation Fund
- Procurement by NAFED
- Public Distribution System
Select the correct answer.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
D. 1 and 4 only
Answer: C
Explanation: All four instruments contribute to stabilizing food prices and ensuring food security.
Q8. Consider the following statements regarding BRICS:
- BRICS has a permanent secretariat.
- The chairmanship of BRICS rotates among member countries.
- The New Development Bank was established by BRICS countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: BRICS has no permanent secretariat. Its chair rotates annually. NDB is a BRICS institution.
Q9. The New Development Bank (NDB) primarily aims to:
A. Regulate global petroleum markets
B. Finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects
C. Supervise global financial markets
D. Provide military assistance to BRICS members
Answer: B
Explanation: NDB finances infrastructure and sustainable development projects in member and other emerging economies.
Q10. Which of the following best explains the concept of a “multipolar world order”?
A. One country dominates global politics.
B. Power is distributed among several major countries or groups.
C. Every country possesses equal military strength.
D. Only regional organizations determine global governance.
Answer: B
Explanation: Multipolarity refers to the distribution of global influence among multiple major powers rather than one or two dominant states.
Q11. Consider the following statements:
- High food inflation may reduce household savings.
- Persistent food inflation can weaken private consumption demand.
- Food inflation always benefits all categories of farmers equally.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: Food inflation hurts consumers and does not uniformly benefit farmers due to varying market access and input costs.
Q12. Which of the following correctly matches the institution with its primary function?
| Institution | Function |
| 1. NAFED | Procurement and market intervention |
| 2. FCI | Buffer stock management |
| 3. NSO | Compilation of Consumer Price Index |
Select the correct answer.
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: NAFED undertakes market intervention, FCI manages procurement and buffer stocks, and NSO compiles CPI.
Q13. Which of the following constitutional provisions is most closely associated with promoting international peace and respect for international law?
A. Article 38
B. Article 39(b)
C. Article 47
D. Article 51
Answer: D
Explanation: Article 51 (Directive Principles) directs the State to promote international peace, security, and respect for international law.
Q14. Consider the following pairs:
| Maritime Chokepoint | Connects |
| 1. Strait of Hormuz | Persian Gulf – Gulf of Oman |
| 2. Bab-el-Mandeb | Red Sea – Gulf of Aden |
| 3. Strait of Malacca | Bay of Bengal – Mediterranean Sea |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: B
Explanation: Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. The Strait of Malacca connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the South China Sea, not the Mediterranean.
Q15. Consider the following statements:
- Strengthening transmission infrastructure is essential for integrating renewable energy into the power grid.
- Reliable electricity infrastructure contributes to industrial growth and economic competitiveness.
- Merely increasing electricity generation without improving transmission capacity is sufficient to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: Renewable integration requires a robust transmission network. Even if generation increases, weak transmission infrastructure can still cause outages and congestion.
APSC Mains Practice Question
📘 GS Mains Model Question (APSC CCE)
📝 Question
Q. “The Strait of Hormuz is not merely a maritime chokepoint but a critical determinant of global energy security and India’s strategic interests.” Examine the statement in the context of the ongoing US–Iran conflict. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Model Answer
Introduction (2–3 lines)
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint. The recent escalation in the US–Iran conflict has once again exposed the vulnerability of global energy supply chains and underscored the strategic importance of this narrow waterway for countries like India.
Body
1. Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
A. Global Energy Security
- Nearly 20% of globally traded crude oil and a significant share of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pass through the Strait.
- It serves as the principal export route for major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Iran.
- Any disruption immediately affects global energy availability and prices.
B. Maritime Trade
- One of the busiest international shipping lanes.
- Essential for uninterrupted global commerce.
- Ensures freedom of navigation under the principles of UNCLOS.
C. Geopolitical Significance
- Control over the Strait provides considerable strategic leverage.
- The region hosts major naval deployments, including the US Fifth Fleet, making it central to global security dynamics.
2. Impact of the US–Iran Conflict on India
A. Energy Security
- India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil, with West Asia remaining a major supplier.
- Supply disruptions increase India’s energy vulnerability.
B. Economic Consequences
- Rise in crude oil prices fuels inflation.
- Higher import bills widen the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
- Increased logistics and insurance costs affect trade competitiveness.
C. Fertilizer and Food Security
- Rising natural gas prices increase fertilizer production costs.
- This may indirectly contribute to food inflation.
D. Indian Diaspora
- Over 9 million Indians reside in Gulf countries.
- Escalation threatens their safety, livelihoods, and remittance inflows.
E. Maritime Security
- Increased threats to Indian merchant vessels.
- Greater responsibility for the Indian Navy in protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
3. India’s Diplomatic Approach
India has pursued a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy by:
- Advocating peaceful dialogue and de-escalation.
- Maintaining strong relations with both Gulf countries and the United States.
- Engaging through multilateral forums to promote regional stability.
- Ensuring the safety of Indian nationals through timely diplomatic interventions.
4. Measures to Strengthen India’s Energy Security
- Diversify crude oil imports across multiple regions.
- Expand Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR).
- Accelerate renewable energy deployment under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and solar initiatives.
- Promote energy efficiency to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
- Strengthen maritime surveillance and regional naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Conclusion
The Strait of Hormuz remains the lifeline of the global energy market, and instability in the region has far-reaching economic and strategic implications. For India, long-term energy security requires a combination of strategic diplomacy, diversified energy sourcing, enhanced maritime preparedness, and accelerated clean energy transition. A balanced foreign policy and resilient energy strategy will enable India to safeguard its national interests while contributing to peace and stability in the wider Indo-Pacific and West Asian regions.
✨ APSC CCE Courses, 2025-26 offered by SuchitraACS
🔔 Join Our WhatsApp Study Group!
For exclusive access to premium quality content, including study materials, current affairs, MCQs, and model answers for APSC CCE and other Assam competitive exams.
Click here to join: SuchitraACS Study WhatsApp Group
📚 Want to know more about SuchitraACS’s most affordable courses?
Click here to know more: SuchitraACS Courses for APSC CCE and Assam Competitive Examinations
